Episodios

  • Empowering Female Athletes - Course. Plus a Grant and VC pitch for investment
    Nov 8 2025
    Unlocking Potential with girls, grants and angel investors in Youth Coaching Discover how to coach girls effectively and learn about a new scalable aquatic platform, all in this episode, #59, of Heavy Or Not. Quick updates on multiple topics. CoachingHer supplies the free digital toolkit, created by Dr. Nicole LaVoi and the Tucker Center, by visiting Read.SwimISCA.org. Core psychological needs for female athletes: competence, choice, and care – presented as a simple cycle. The CoachingHer pyramid: physiological basics → safety → belonging → esteem → self‑actualization. Then, the second application for the $50,000 Moonshot Aquatics Grant. There is still hope for the funding for the AI Coaching Wizard. Lastly, we seek assistance from Angel investors to launch of a media‑first aquatic lifestyle brand that turns swimming into a scalable, inclusive community. Access the free resources: https://read.swimisca.org 1. Introduction to the CoachingHer Program Purpose & Vision – A free video and course designed to help coaches effectively coach girls and women. Why Coaching Matters – Coaches are a key factor in whether girls enter, stay, or drop out of sport. Creator Background – Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi: former tennis coach, scholar‑educator, Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. Core Issue Highlighted – Unconscious gender bias & stereotypes that hurt girls' self‑perceptions. Toolkit Features – Evidence‑based, on‑demand digital resources; bookmarkable, pause‑and‑play, device‑agnostic. Upcoming Modules – Body‑confident coaching, de‑stigmatizing menstruation, mental‑health, body‑image. Community Call‑to‑Action – Join, spread the word, become "her reason" to stay in sport. 2. Accessing the Materials & Learning Management System (LMS) Link Provided –read.swimisca.org(redirects to the International Swim Coaches Association LMS). Free Availability – All CoachingHer resources are offered at no charge. Support & Funding – Program supported by the University of Minnesota, Nike, and other major sponsors. 3. Mark Rauterkus's Personal Coaching Context Location & Setting – Coach in Pittsburgh, PA; Assistant Coach at an independent girls‑only private school (akin to an international school). Observations on Coaching Girls vs. Boys/Co‑ed – Distinct approaches needed; emphasis on psychological needs. 4. Psychological Needs Framework for Coaching Girls Three Core Needs (Cycle) Competence – Development and improvement of sport‑specific skills. Choice – Empowering athletes with self‑determination (e.g., attendance, skill focus, event selection). Care – Demonstrating genuine value and individualized attention. Reverse Ordering Mentioned – Care → Choice → Competence, emphasizing the cyclical nature. 5. Pyramid of Athlete Needs (Adapted from CoachingHer/Tucker Center) Base Layer – Physiological Needs Food, water, warmth, safety, appropriate pool environment, locker‑room logistics, travel considerations, weather conditions. Second Layer – Psychological/Safety Needs Sense of belonging, love, relationships, team bonding, camaraderie, inclusion. Third Layer – Esteem Needs Self‑pride, prestige, accomplishment, building confidence, avoiding belittlement. Top Layer – Self‑Actualization/Fulfillment Achieving full potential, creative expression, personal growth. 6. Grant & Funding Opportunities Moonshot Aquatics Grant – Version 2 $50,000 Letter‑of‑Intent (LOI) round; previous attempt unsuccessful, now re‑submitted with additional partners. AI assistance used in drafting the application. Insights from Barry Healey "If you don't ask, you don't get." – Emphasis on persistence. Grant outcomes often depend on reviewer bias, regional trends, and timing. 7. Challenges Facing the Aquatic Industry Current Issues Pool closures, disengaged parents, coach turnover, lack of unified brand, fragmented solutions, weak industry voices. Market Gap – No scalable, cohesive platform that ties together content, community, and commerce for swimming. 8. Proposed Solution: A Scalable Aquatic Lifestyle Brand Concept Overview Podcast → Platform → Evergreen training → National TV rollout. Leadership & Credentials Mark Rauterkus (50+ years in swimming, 100+ published titles) backed by International Swim Coaches Association. Business Model Highlights Media‑first approach targeting youth sport but extending across a lifetime. Early‑bird opportunity: 150,000 USD for early entry; existing content & network already in place. Scalability & Execution No prior aquatics experience required for participants. Demonstrated metrics and rapid momentum. Positioning "Ted Lasso for the pools" – delivering fun, sticky, inclusive swimming experiences. 9. Closing Call‑to‑Action Invitation to Investors & ...
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    12 m
  • Was Illegal, Now Genius? This Backstroke Move Is Finishing Fast
    Nov 5 2025

    Coach Steve Friederang unpacks a technique with private-lesson athletes that's bending by-gone rules without breaking them. Could this be the biggest backstroke breakthrough since dolphin kicks off the wall?

    In this episode of Heavy Or Not - The OG Swim Guide, biomechanist and elite swim coach Steve Friederang breaks down a newly misunderstood, and presently underused, backstroke finishing technique in forward thinking swimming: the underwater kicking returns at the finish for speedy backstroke.

    With a recent rule change allowing swimmers to submerge in the final 5 meters of a backstroke race, Steve shares how he's helping top-tier athletes legally use dolphin kicks all the way to the touch on the wall, and gain a serious edge.

    You'll learn:

    • Why this backstroke rule exists (and how it's misunderstood)

    • How elite swimmers train underwater finishes without losing speed

    • The biomechanics behind maximizing your dolphin kick

    • Drills, tools, and safety tips to train like a pro

    • Real results from swimmers dropping seconds, not tenths

    Whether you're a coach, swimmer, or swim parent, this episode is packed with practical insights and race-changing techniques.

    Subscribe to catch our weekly swim strategy sessions and training deep dives.
    New episodes are going to be open for live discussions every Wednesday at 1:30 PM ET.
    Got questions or ideas? Drop them in the comments. We might feature them next week!

    Opt in at https://HON.LAP.red or else at Steve's Competitive Swimmer magazine.

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    23 m
  • Protecting Swim Coaches: Insurance Solutions for Peace of Mind and Retention
    Nov 4 2025

    In this episode of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we discuss why insurance coverage is a critical need for swimming coaches and how Barry Healey with ISCA and the BC Swimming Coaches Association are working on the discovery for solutions to fortify the profession and passions of coaches.

    What you'll learn:

    • What if every coach had $1‑2 M in liability insurance and lawyer support.
    • Let's consider all the modern risks of going uninsured.
    • Real‑world scenarios that have cost coaches financially and mentally.
    • How advocates are negotiating insurance options and potential membership fees.
    • Plans for a joint venture to embed insurance education and mental‑health training into coach certification.
    • How you can get involved – sign up on the Heavy Or Not form to stay informed and help shape the solution.

    Turning Insurance Into Retention: Keeping Coaches in Competitive Swimming and Sport

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    18 m
  • We Are: College Swimming 101 with Penn State's Hollie Bonewit-Cron
    Oct 28 2025

    Catch the latest deep‑dive with Penn State swimming head coach Hollie Bonewit‑Cron as she breaks down recruiting, training schedules, and the evolving college‑swim landscape. From dual‑meet highlights against Pitt to her career path and future plans, get the key takeaways from a clinic to coaches when she was in her first season as the head coach in Happy Valley.

    In this video you'll learn:

    • How Penn State structures its practice groups, pool assignments, and daily training blocks.
    • The current recruiting pipeline, international talent, and scholarship timelines for the classes.
    • Holly's coaching philosophy on culture, accountability, and balancing academics with athletics.
    • Insights on the transfer portal, roster caps, and how the program navigates NCAA rule changes.
    • A quick recap of Hollie's career journey, from Athens, Ohio, and an OU swimmer to coaching as a Florida assistant and then to Miami of Ohio to Penn State head coach.

    Penn State Swimming's Fresh Vision: Coaching, Recruiting, and Culture Under Hollie Bonewit‑Cron

    Questions from the audience too.

    • Managing Burnout, Time, and Recovery for Elite College Swimmers at Penn State
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    57 m
  • Swim Data Crisis Looms Large with USA Swimming Time Sharing
    Oct 13 2025
    Is USA Swimming Holding the Sport Hostage?USA Swimming's data drama is setting the sport back decades — and it's hurting athletes, families, and innovation. Here's what they're not telling you... Why Swim Times Are DisappearingImagine training all year only for your swim times to vanish into thin air. This podcast exposes the growing blackout and the fight for data transparency. The Swim Data Crisis No One Is Talking AboutDevelopers are quitting. Parents are confused. Swimmers are in the dark. The future of competitive swimming depends on solving this data nightmare.

    In this candid conversation we hear about the growing crisis around swim meet result data—why PDF‑only posting is hurting athletes, coaches, and developers. Michael Krone explains the barriers, the mis‑interpretations of privacy rules, and what's on the horizon.

    What you'll learn:

    • Why parsing PDFs for meet times is a dead‑end solution for the sport.
    • How LSEs misread USA Swimming's privacy policy and are removing raw result files.
    • The impact on third‑party tools like MySwim IO and Swim Standards.
    • USA Swimming's planned API rollout (estimated 4‑5 months) and its limitations.
    • Action steps for coaches, parents, and developers to push for open, accessible meet data.
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    19 m
  • The Single: Vintage Vibes, Machine Made
    Oct 8 2025

    After repeated requests, this single is being lifted from the rewind show, #50, at the end of season one and put into its own episode.

    CDs were pressed and offered at The Eastern States Clinic and elsewhere, but too few have CD players. Go figure. Enjoy the tune delivered by recycled electrons. Its message is a calling for you to do a complete rewind of the prior episodes. Binge on the content and skip into the future with confidence! But no running on the pool deck.

    This song shows what happens when AI writes a track for a gritty show about real human struggle in swimming and coaching.

    Heavy Or Not: The Single is a machine-made, vintage-inspired musical experiment that hits like a lost 45 RPM classic—pressed with purpose, soaked in soul, and spun by artificial intelligence.

    This isn't just another song release. It's what happens when emotion meets algorithm.
    And it's about to change how we think about music, storytelling, and tech.

    • Want to feel vintage vibes without breaking the bank?
    • Ever wonder what it sounds like when AI creates art that hits you in the gut?
    • Think old-school records are dead? Let this track prove you wrong.
    • If you love real music with a twist you won't see coming—keep listening.
    • Warning: You may not believe a machine made this…

    Whether you're a nostalgic crate-digger, a future-focused creator, or just someone who loves a good story set to music—this one's for you.

    Hit play. Heavy Or Not… you decide. And, let us know.

    If you want help in crafting your own song for your team, an ISCA travel meet, senior night or the team banquet, then subscribe and then attend our roundtable discussions. We would love to share your song in a future episode.


    #preach #sing #coach #play

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    3 m
  • Five+ Game-Changing Ideas You Haven't Heard Yet -- just revealed at the Eastern States Clinic
    Oct 6 2025

    New Roundtable Series for for Aquatic Professionals and Coaches:

    1. Insurance,
    2. Intellectual Property,
    3. Technology,
    4. Fun & Games, and
    5. Broadcasting

    What Every Coach Needs to Hear From the OG Swim Guy

    Coach Mark Rauterkus breaks down new coaching resources, roundtables, and media opportunities for swim professionals. Watch to learn how you can get involved, access free content, and stay ahead in the industry.

    • Overview of the five weekly roundtables: CYA (insurance), IP in the pool, Tech, Fun & Games, and Broadcasting.
    • Details on WAFSU.org webinars and seminars for schools, universities, and international coaches.
    • Pathways to present your own content on the podcast or at roundtable events.
    • Quick look at the TV show vision and some related media projects (Apple TV's "Stick," local Pittsburgh shows). Got ideas?

    Live from the Eastern States Clinic – Featuring Mark Rauterkus

    Get ready to rethink community and what you thought you knew about swim coaching. In this episode of Heavy or Not, Mark Rauterkus — the OG Swim Guy and ISCA webmaster — drops five powerful ideas that challenge the status quo of competitive swimming, youth sports, and coach development.

    From water safety to podcasting, tech tools to mental health for young athletes, this talk at the Eastern States Clinic is packed with insight, experience, and vision for the future of aquatic leadership.

    Topics Covered:

    • The future of swim education

    • Tech innovation in coaching

    • Mental skills training for young athletes

    • Live streaming and media in aquatic sports

    • The global coaching community via WAFSU

    Whether you're a high school swim coach, swim parent, or athlete — this is a must-listen.

    Subscribe to the podcast: https://HON.LAP.red
    Learn more at ISCA: https://swimisca.org
    Full archive of episodes available wherever you get your podcasts.

    #SwimCoach #SwimmingPodcast #MarkRauterkus #EasternStatesClinic #HeavyOrNot #AquaticLeadership #ISCA #SwimTraining #YouthSports

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    11 m
  • Navigating Aquatics with Mark Rauterkus: Water Polo, AI Tools, and Community Coaching Strategies
    Sep 19 2025

    This episode of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, jumps into a podcast from friend and we replay a recent releaseof Navigating Neva. We had a sit down interview with Nicole and Wes -- and myself, Mark Rauterkus. The coach, podcaster, and ISCA contributor comes gushing about and we explore how swimming, water polo, and tech are reshaping aquatics today.

    We cover:

    • How Mark launched the "Heavy Or Not" podcast and his vision for expanding its reach.
    • Using water polo to keep swimmers engaged and create a pipeline for lifelong aquatic participation.
    • Mark's diverse coaching background—from high‑school and college pools to community programs and the Pittsburgh Public Schools "Summer Dreamers."
    • The role of the International Swim Coaches Association (ISCA) in hosting meets, providing education, and upcoming AI‑driven tools.
    • Practical AI & CRM solutions that streamline pool operations, sponsor outreach, and coach‑parent communications.
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    51 m